Baseball

It will be the first time he's thrown since landing on the DL last week with a strained trapezius muscle. "Then we'll do some long toss, a bullpen and hopefully work it up to a simulated game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Pettitte is expected back on June 1, the first day he's eligible, or shortly after that.

Nova's triceps doesn't appear to be an issue anymore, but the Yankees don't seem eager to add him to the roster. The righty has already appeared in multiple extended spring games and, according to manager Joe Girardi, "felt good" during a bullpen session Wednesday. "We'll make sure he feels OK and we'll go from there," Girardi said. With Andy Pettitte (trapezius muscle) likely to return soon, Nova might wind up being optioned to Triple-A or being used as a long man.

He's just getting the day off. Curtis Granderson will make the start in center field while Ichiro Suzuki plays right and Vernon Wells starts in left.

Nuno was sent down on Tuesday, but he's eligible to return now that Andy Pettitte (trapezius) has been placed on the disabled list. The 25-year-old southpaw has a 5/3 K/BB ratio over eight shutout frames with the Yankees this season and figures to get a start or two while Pettitte is sidelined. However, he shouldn't be a consideration outside of AL-only formats.

Hughes struck out five while giving up five hits and two walks. The right-hander would have been fine if he didn't have to face Chris Dickerson, as the outfielder took Hughes deep twice in the game. It's a nice step forward for Hughes, who had been rocked each of the last two times out. He'll face the Mets next week.

Hafner plated runs in the first and fourth innings, but they were the only tallies the Yankees could muster in the extra innings loss. Pronk dealt with a shoulder issue last week, but he appears to be fine now, having homered twice and driven in two runs in each of his three games since returning to action.

It was his first bit of game action since landing on the disabled list with a lumbar spine sprain. Youkilis' recovery has gone slower than expected, but he's finally made some strides. The Yankees haven't revealed a timetable for his return, but early June seems about right.